As 6-month-olds in our Forgotten Kitten Project, they needed stability, patience, and time for their confidence to develop in a way that adopters could see. 

First, we addressed both of their respiratory infections, then we focused on their more chronic medical issues that limited their quality of life. Garth had entropion, a painful genetic condition where the eyelids turn inward and eyelashes rub against the eye. In our care, he received corrective eye surgery. He had painfully rotted teeth that made eating difficult, so we got him dental surgery. Wayne’s eyes were unusual too — he had corneal damage that wasn’t painful, and wasn’t severe enough to require surgery at the time, but would need monitoring for signs of deterioration.

Then, we began focusing on the bigger picture: what would it take for these cats to build the courage needed to become adoptable?

One way for cats to develop trust is to see trusting behavior modeled by other cats, so we placed them in our free-roaming space for some social learning. Although Wayne and Garth settled into our Cat Zone quickly, they struggled to attract adopters. They remained hesitant around people, which the average guest could quickly perceive as “not interested” or “not friendly.” We could see they would need more predictable interactions to adjust at their own pace, so we decided to try another approach and give them more time.